For writing a PhD thesis, Statement of the problem is necessary.
It should be cleared to the students as well the mentors.
What is this?
From my understanding you have to answer two major questions:
(1) research challenge :what type of problem you are trying to solve.
(2) significance of your work :how important and original is your work when you compare it to previous studies in the same topic.
The statement of the problem informs readers the exact problem and its context and justifies why it must be solved via the study. Also, it highlights the study's associated benefits in improving policies and the state of a particular phenomenon in the society.
As far as my perception goes, you have to write the statement of the problem after considering the following points:
1. Review of the literature related to your study
2. What is the problem you are trying to solve through your research
3. What is the uniqueness in your study which other researchers have not included in their research.
Dear Md Zafar Alam Bhuiyan , it is an interesting issue.
Yes it is important to write statement of the problem. This is because, it is in this section that you are expected to present the vision, potential problems and method that will be used to solve the problem in a very clearly, specifically and concisely.
The problem statement should consider a known problem and scope of population impact and the constructs embedded in the selection of your theoretical premise. When I narrowed down my dissertation concept, I knew that I would be working with Donabedian's Organizational Performance model of Structure-Process-Outcomes. In general, I wanted to address the alarming rate of hospital acquired infections that caused a tremendous cost in quality of life (morbidity and mortality) and strained the financial health system of hospitals. I also believed that the introduction of the biomedical engineering technician into the process would improve healthcare quality and reduce HAI because they were in control of medical equipment that might be a source of transmission. This drove my desire to approach the issue. I had a problem, impact, and guidelines to measure the concept. Measuring was key so that you have both predictors and outcomes. Otherwise, if you do not measure you will not have any reliable information to draw your conclusions. I have attached the Problem Statement and Research questions from my dissertation as an example of how to incorporate the components I have discussed in this message. A key to achieving a true problem statement is not waiting until you have to select a topic to begin your research journey. Throughout the two years I was taking my required classes, I stuck to this general topic in papers that I developed for classroom assignments. By the time I finished my Qualifying Exams 1 3/4 years into the program, I was able to give my proposal that was quickly approved. Do a project that you care about OR that you can find data to analyze. This will also make the process less painful. Also, writing your own problem statement from your own research will ease the burden. I cannot emphasize this enough. If you do not formulate your own problem statement, you will not have the level of commitment, direction, and understanding necessary to complete the task at hand.
A good research problem should address an existing gap in knowledge in the field and lead to further research.
Ph D problem should be practical utility , clear objectives , importance of topic and significance of research etc.
That means very clear justification of the research problem. PhD candidate should describe his/her research in details - what is already known in the field? what is missing? why is the missing part problem in the science? what should be done in order to better understand/describe/predict... those missing part (missing part could be formulated as a research question and/or research hypothesis) etc.
Md Zafar Alam Bhuiyan I just wanted to add a bit more for clarity. A thesis is generally associated with a Master's program and a dissertation with a doctoral program requirement. I would like to emphasize that where students often fail in developing their problem statement or in completing these important requirements is not for lack of finding a problem to solve or from their literature review. It is the lack of measuring the problem through a theoretical premise which leads to the answers to the gaps in literature or problem solution. I cannot emphasize this enough. What is often the most difficult for students to see is this area of research--how the research design will lead to information that ultimately answers the problem. Researching the theory is just as important as finding a problem. You will note that only having all the components can lead to the formation of problem resolution. I simply cannot emphasize this enough for the dissertation. A thesis may have less rigid requirements but also benefits from the application of some research design based on a credible theory. Please note that my research questions revolve around the reliability of the theory and the constructs I am testing in relation to predictors and outcomes. They are different from the research problem/statement that revolves around an observable problem and/or problem gap revealed in literature. One thing that is easy to see for me is that if a student does not grasp this understanding, they will not be able to develop a research design and thus, unable to develop research statement. This also means that there may be a problem with relaying this information to students in the curriculum or that the mentor (thesis chair or mentor) does not fully grasp the importance of the very real distinction between the research problem and the research questions. They must link a theory that measures these concepts or else they just have a literature review without addressing existing gaps. There will be nothing to draw their conclusions from except their own experience and as we know, that is not enough to say, 'because I say so'.
Dear Colleague Md Zafar Alam Bhuiyan
There is a scientific framework to build a thesis:
1- Choose a theme;
2- Raise questions about this topic;
3-Choose one question and try to elaborate possible answers;
4-Choose only one answer and turn it into your thesis. From that moment, raise arguments for and against until arriving at a conclusion.
A good research problem should have the following characteristics:
It should address a gap in knowledge.
It should be significant enough to contribute to the existing body of research
It should lead to further research
The problem should render itself to investigation through collection of data
It should be of interest to the researcher and suit his/her skills, time, and resources
The approach towards solving the problem should be ethical
This depends on the nature of the subject of the message and then the problem is formulated around the subject to be studied and researched
When writing the problem, the researcher must clarify the depth of the problem of the subject and formulate it in a way understandable to the reader until it reaches the idea of the subject and explain why he chose this topic or this study in addition to the title and importance of the topic
Student has started planning his career of his thesis program right from their P.G level . It is in this line I have expressed my views sometime back & yearly ago which I submit herewith for your perusal .
Every students planning is career has certainly hopes & aspiration to gain something for betterment of his career .It is in this respect such students is selected his career for higher study with the research end in his mind for his PhD in career .
As you know that PhD student with his intellectual end has planned his lifeline from the graduate & P.G level so that they may not have to under go inconvenience & hardship for completing his thesis .
I personally feel that students of PhD follow the similar sort of practice for his PhD career .
This is my personal opinion
Write clearly the topic and the importance of the study, methods used to achieve it with understandable way.
First up all you have to clear research field, accordingly decid your research objectives, scope of study and expected out come should be clear. After that you start your research.
Identify the problems on ground then coin out research questions that could lead to a research progress and way forward
The sober search based on new objectives, creativity, as well as results supported by sources and realistic ...
Dijana Vučković , J. M. Koli , Rohit Manilal Parikh , Beemnet Mengesha Kassahun
Dear valued all researchers:
Could anyone help me writing statement of the problem of:
Folk Art of Bengal: It's Genesis and Impact in Bangladeshi Fashion
Thanks
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